Battle of Deccet

The Battle of Deccet occurred in 884 when a force of 30 Danish raiders from East Anglia were ambushed and killed by a West Saxon force under Uhtred of Bebbanburg as they marched through Mercia with their captives.

Background
After his victory at the Battle of Dunholm in 880, the West Saxon ealdorman Uhtred of Bebbanburg was rewarded by King Alfred the Great with an estate at Coccham in present-day Berkshire. Uhtred was entrusted with the defense of England to the south of the River Thames, and the Danes of East Anglia, ruled by Guthrum, threatened Wessex's safety by sporadically launching raids into Wessex and neighboring Mercia. While Wessex was at peace with East Anglia, Uhtred was bothered by the screams of terrified villagers from across the river.

Battle
One night in 884, the Danes under Alvi Leiknirsson attacked the village of Deccet (present-day Datchet), terrorizing the villagers and taking several captives. Uhtred and a few of his men crossed the foggy Thames on boats and ambushed the column of Danes and hostages on the main road. The West Saxons slaughtered the Danes after a short battle, and Uhtred had Finan the Agile hang three Danish bodies to warn the Danes against launching another raid. One Danish survivor was sent back to his comrades to warn them against further raids.